Another defeat on the road.

Report by David Robinson

Ashton registered their second 4-1 reverse of the week as the Canaries proved much too strong for the Robins. With Jack Dyche suspended joint manager Jody Banim stepped in up front but it was the hosts off to a flyer as Tomkinson’s corner was returned to him and his second attempt saw the unmarked Luke Barlone head home after just 6 minutes.
Dec Towers then headed Tomkinson’s next delivery well over and John Roberts was well off target for Ashton following a poor clearance but midway through the half Barlone turned provider as he pivoted well and put a cross to the back post where captain Brady Hickey was able to head the second. Ten minutes before the interval Barlone’s lay off saw Nigel Julien hammer in a shot which felled left back Josh Stachini, astonishingly Mr Oldham adjudged this worthy of a penalty, even under the modern interpretation of the rules this was a bizarre decision and Callum Ball added insult to injury from the spot.
Hickey could have made things even worse before the interval as he stepped past Dominic Smalley but could only find the side netting.
On the resumption Hickey immediately beat the offside trap with Pilling needing to rescue Ashton with the save and Tomkinson drifted a cross to the far post which was squeezed wide by the incoming Ball. Barlone was then put clear from halfway but took too long and Joe Connor was able to block but it wasn’t long before a third headed goal arrived via centre back Towers who converted Tomkinson’s latest delivery and the Robins finally got into the contest as a decent free kick from Ryan Crowther was headed over by Benito Lowe and a minute later Pilling’s long clearance was flicked on by Richard Smith putting Lee Knight clear to round Castle and pull one back.
The final action saw Ball put Hickey clear but he was denied by a carbon copy of the chance Barlone missed allowing Joe Connor time to make the block.
Team; Pilling, Smalley, Stachini, Mason, Connor, Lees, Roberts (Lowe), Smith, Knight, Banim (Maiese), Crowther. SNU: Haining.